I guess some people are just always miserable.  No matter the circumstances, the location, the people involved, or anything else, some people just can't possibly be happy about anything.  It might appear through some of my writing that I'm one of these people, but I assure you I'm not.  There are people who are much more literally miserable than I occasionally appear to be.  And it wouldn't be a bad thing in itself, except for the fact that it almost always affects other people.  I don't mind if you want to wallow in your misery and sit in a corner feeling bad for yourself, but when it has an effect on me or someone around me, I'm annoyed.  The person most likely to be affected by a miserable person is that person's significant other.  And I see it happening all the time.  Two people are out of commission for an extended period of time because of one person's inability to cope.  Hey, we all have problems.  Just suck it up and deal with it like the rest of us. #psychology

Indexed is a site consisting of graphs and charts drawn on index cards.  Similar to Dave Brown's Venn Diagrams, it provides a geeky pictorial view of current issues and ideas.  (via dive into mark) #math

I get annoyed when people speak different languages around me.  I always feel like they're saying something about me or at least something they don't feel comfortable saying around me.  And that makes me mad.  Obviously, if it was worth saying in front of me, it would be said in plain English.  But since it's disguised behind a language I'm not familiar with, I'm left to believe it's a personal attack directed at me. 

The other thing I've noticed is that people who say things in other languages follow their statements with laughter.  Or more accurately, childlike giggling.  This of course leads me even more strongly to the conclusion that their statements are about me and their laughter is at my disproportionate head or the armpit stains on my shirt.  Again, this annoys me. 

My only consolation is the fact that other languages are funny to listen to.  I literally laugh and think, "Wow, that's the stupidest bunch of monkey-talk I've ever heard."  Shows them. #psychology

One week after 2.0.6, I upgraded to WordPress 2.0.7. #technology

George Washington was the man.  He's attributed with copying 110 Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation, based on earlier work by French Jesuits.  By further translating the old English into modern English, I found I have a lot of the same ideas as him. 

GW:  2nd - When in Company, put not your Hands to any Part of the Body, not usually Discovered.
Me:  When walking out of a bathroom, don't continue to tuck in your shirt, button your pants, or further adjust yourself in any way.  This should all be done in a bathroom, behind closed doors. (#)

GW:  5th - If You Cough, Sneeze, Sigh, or Yawn, do it not Loud but Privately; and Speak not in your Yawning, but put Your handkerchief or Hand before your face and turn aside.
Me:  And what really kills me is when people not only yawn with no abandon, but when they vocalize it with some sort of audible groan or other noise. (#) Don't yawn in my face. (#)

GW:  12th - Shake not the head, Feet, or Legs roll not the Eyes lift not one eyebrow higher than the other wry not the mouth, and bedew no mans face with your Spittle, by approaching too near him when you Speak.
Me:  (Well, actually Seinfeld) Close talker. (#)

GW:  22nd - Show not yourself glad at the Misfortune of another though he were your enemy.
Me:  (Though opposite) I take pleasure in observing other people's deserved misfortunes. (#)

GW:  35th - Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive.
Me:  There are some people who just use too many words to say simple things. (#)

GW:  99th - Drink not too leisurely nor yet too hastily. Before and after drinking, wipe your lips; breath not then or ever with too great a noise, for its uncivil.
Me:  I've been noticing that there is often a person in a group of people who's a loud breather ... a noise that sounds like breathing through a snorkel. (#)

If agreement with the first and arguably the best president in the history of our country is any indication of greatness, I expect to be a write-in candidate in the next presidential election. 

(via Neatorama) #psychology

The field goal is an essential part of football.  When a touchdown is just out of reach, 3 points are a good consolation prize.  But the recent Colts vs. Ravens playoff game took things just a little too far.  The final score was 15-6, and all points were scored with field goals.  With this in mind, I have a two-part opinion: 

1. If a team doesn't score any touchdowns, they don't deserve to win.  This is football, not soccer.  The winning team should score at least one touchdown, or at least get a safety or two.
2. There should be a maximum number of field goals a team can kick per game.  For example, after 3 field goals, a team should be forbidden from kicking another.  Instead, they should have to either punt or go for it.

A game-winning field goal is one thing, but winning a game with field goals is another. #sports

This YouTube video is a wonderful collection of David Caruso one-liners.  He's the guy from CSI Miami whose sole purpose is to deliver an overly dramatic, pause-filled, corny line while placing sunglasses on his face or standing with his hands on his hips.  The line is almost always followed by the opening credits or some other sort of tension-inducing commercial break.  I can't stand him. #entertainment

I finally put together a sponsors page and added all the affiliates from the footer (and removed them from the footer).  Now the text at the top of each page cycles through my whole list of affiliates/sponsors, even a few Google ones. 

Edit:  I got rid of it.  It wasn't worth it. #technology

Most, if not all, digital cameras these days have the ability to record video in addition to still pictures.  I've always discounted this ability because of the poor resolution and high storage space requirements.  But my sister completely changed my opinion.  She constantly takes videos of random funny events that can't be captured with still pictures.  This is one solution to the problem of pictures not being able to capture certain things.  Cats running around the house.  Children doing strange things and making unusual faces.  Coke shooting out of a bottle after Mentos are added.  These things can't really be captured with still pictures.  Sure, your imagination can fill in the blanks, and your memory usually helps you fully picture the event.  But some things are just better captured with video.  Plus, videos capture sound, and some sounds need to be heard to be understood.  I just recently moved my 1GB SD card from my Treo to my camera so I can take more videos.  It's been working out great.  I have quite a few videos of the cats doing weird things, a video of a wide open field in rural Virginia taken while driving, and a video of my 2-year-old nephew running like a 2-year-old. #entertainment

I looked at my website on a mobile phone last night and I was appalled at its ugliness and lack of usability.  So for now, I enabled Alex King's WordPress Mobile Edition plugin.  If you're using a mobile phone to access my site, let me know what you think.  If this doesn't work, maybe Google's mobile viewer, Skweezer, or Phonifier will. 

Update (2007-02-08 10:51am):  I disabled the plugin because most mobile phones have a choice between "optimized" and "wide page" modes.  Optimized mode should display things nicely. #technology